Decisions of a President-Elect

By Tony Coelho ’64

Some of a new president’s most crucial decisions are those made between election day and inauguration day. We asked Tony Coelho, who has spent much of his public service career at some of the highest levels of U.S. government, to outline the 10 most important decisions to be made by a newly elected chief executive. Because of this issue’s deadlines, Coelho’s comments were written prior to the outcome of the November 2016 presidential election.

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Select a chief of staff
The single most important “new hire,” after selecting a vice president is the chief of staff. I don’t say this because I was once offered the job, but because history shows that a strong, smart and savvy COS does make a difference. Looking at former successful chiefs of staff as models and translating that to today’s political environment, I recommend a morphing of Leon Panetta, with his Washington insider know-how that served President Bill Clinton well, and the antithetical appointment by President Ronald Reagan of the person that ran two presidential campaigns against him — Jim Baker. Chief of Staff “PanBak” would serve our president and country well.

Select a foreign affairs team, including a national security team, secretary of state, secretary of defense, CIA director and U.N. ambassador
Given the complex world we live in — and the continued and real threat from ISIS — plus the saber rattling of Russia and North Korea, the new president will need a crackerjack national security team. Appointing a foreign affairs and national security team that is respected by our allies, feared by our enemies and has the respect of Congress is a tall order indeed, but one that is critical for our new president.

Decide on a plan to fill the Supreme Court vacancy
Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit Merrick Garland is President Barack Obama’s current nominee to the Supreme Court. Congressional relations matter, as atop the action list will be moving this nomination forward or finding a replacement who can garner the support of the Senate, as well as filling other vacant federal judgeships, as there are many. No easy task, but one that has to be undertaken quickly.

Embark upon a Congressional relations strategy
Obviously, given my former position in Congressional leadership, I place a great deal of importance upon a president’s relationship with Congress. And again, based upon this year’s presidential election campaign, inroads will need to be made with Congress. The House controls the purse strings, and the Senate controls presidential appointments. The new president needs to focus on showing the world that, post-election, we can work together for the common good. (I can at least hope!)

Select top Cabinet appointees and other key White House personnel
This is the business of governing. While the importance of these decisions is obvious, they need to be a priority. “To the victor belongs the spoils” — a phrase coined in the election of 1828 — but today is not the time, given the recent bruising election, to further disenfranchise people by the new president turning his or her top 50 appointments into an episode of “House of Cards.”

Select an economic team, including secretary of the treasury, director of Office of Management and Budget, and the Council of Economic Advisors
It’s clear that many Americans have not participated in the economic recovery that has followed the great recession. It will be incumbent upon our new president to put together a dream team of economic advisors who not only can relate to the turmoil many Americans experience, but also chart a clear course for their economic future. It’s not only the mechanics of a plan that will be important, so, too, will be how those nuts and bolts are communicated.

Decide administration priorities for first 100 days
A president is responsible for setting a course for the nation and articulating a vision. This becomes the basis for his or her work with Congress and the American people. The agenda for the first 100 days of an administration, much like any senior executive position, sends a message. I remember serving in Congress during the Reagan administration. President Reagan had a clear focus for his first 100 days and, frankly, for all of his time in office. Not all of us agreed with him, but his clarity of purpose and message was never in dispute. This year, that kind of clarity will be all the more important.

Choose a press secretary
Some may be surprised that I place the selection of a press secretary so high on the list of immediate actions for the new president. I do this because of the sorry state of our political discourse. Regardless of whether the new president is a Democrat, Republican or Independent, I think we can all agree that the 2016 election has been the most vitriolic in our lifetime. The presidential press secretary is the day-to-day face of the president to the nation and the world. That individual guides the president’s messaging. As we recover from this year’s election, it is my hope that the new president selects a respected voice to emanate from the White House pressroom.

Appoint the White House counsel
The White House counsel is the president’s lawyer for presidential matters — not a personal attorney. This is the staff appointee who advises him or her on all legal matters in exercising the office of the president, from vetoing legislation to conflicts of interest. The position was created in 1943. In 2017, the ability to navigate conflicts and build confidence in White House activities will be critical.

Find roles in the administration for people with disabilities
This last item on my Top Ten list is personal. As an individual with a disability and given my lifelong ministry to help others with disabilities, I am hopeful that our next president will place an emphasis on appointing people with disabilities to policy making administration positions. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, “About 1 in 5 Americans have some kind of disability, and 1 in 10 have a severe disability.” It’s time that those of us with disabilities are better represented within the ranks of the White House staff, Cabinet officials and top policymakers.

Tony Coelho ’64

Tony Coelho was elected to six terms in the U.S. Congress, representing California’s 15th District. While a member of the House, he served as the majority whip and is credited with being the primary sponsor of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, which was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush. Coelho also was chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, chair of the President’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities, and chair of Vice President Al Gore’s presidential campaign in 2000. Coelho now is chair of the Board of Directors of the Epilepsy Foundation and is active in many causes related to disability rights and education. In 2015, he received the Inaugural Loyola Marymount University President’s Award.